Monday

Occupational Training Center of Burlington County (OTC) unveiled a memorial to honor its longtime leader, the late Joseph Bender, earlier this month.

BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP — Occupational Training Center of Burlington County unveiled a memorial to honor its longtime leader, the late Joseph Bender, earlier this month.

The memorial rock was dedicated outside of OTC’s headquarters on Manhattan Drive, named the Joseph S. Bender Building. Bender served as executive director of OTC for 43 years prior to his passing in January.

Bender is credited with helping the organization grow from its beginnings in a school basement to its current role as one of the largest disability service providers in New Jersey, according to OTC. The nonprofit’s mission is to assist those with special needs in finding success in a work environment, and provides vocational rehabilitation and job placement programs.

“We are dedicating this rock because Joe was the rock of this organization,” said Franklin Gomez, OTC Board of Trustees secretary. “His sensitivity, vision and leadership on behalf of people with significant disabilities is unquestionable.”

In addition to the plaque, OTC Executive Director Jeffrey Haines presented Bender’s family with a Lifetime Achievement Award from ACCSES, a network of more than 1,200 organizations that provide services to people with disabilities across the United States. The award was announced during the 2018 ACCSES Annual Conference in Washington D.C. this summer.

“It was a privilege to work alongside Joe Bender for more than 40 years,” Haines said. “He dedicated his life to helping individuals with disabilities and I couldn’t be more proud to pay tribute to him today.”

The memorial dedicated to Bender reads, in part, “His visionary leadership, inspiration and dedication were instrumental in building a dynamic and progressive organization to fulfill our mission to assist individuals with disabilities in reaching their maximum potential in preparing for the work environment, vocationally, socially, and personally.”

For information on OTC, visit otcbc.org.

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